The city’s electric utility got an early start Monday morning in anticipation of power outages from Hurricane Sandy.

By 5 a.m. Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant had a “full compliment” of line and tree crews in the field responding to reports of tree limbs damaging power lines, according to TMLP general manager Michael Horrigan.

It turns out they would need it.

As winds and rain increased Monday afternoon sporadic reports of businesses and homes losing power gradually increased — resulting in the scrambling of TMLP crews and city fire trucks.

Shortly after 2 p.m. three National Grid transmission lines damaged by falling tree limbs led to a blackout in parts of downtown, according to TMLP customer care administrator Bill Strojny.

Buildings on Cohannet Street, including the Taunton Daily Gazette at 5 Cohannet St., and on Broadway were among those temporarily bereft of electric service.

Strojny said TMLP crews within about 45 minutes managed to remedy the situation and restore power.

By mid-afternoon a growing number of reports of wind-stroked tree limbs damaging houses throughout city neighborhoods began pouring in, according to the Taunton Fire Department.

None of those, as of 3:45 p.m., were reported to have resulted in severe damage or personal injury.

Horrigan had a simple yet vital message for anyone venturing outside during what could be a hurricane of historic proportions.

“Stay away from down wires,” he implored.

“Always assume they’re live,” added Strojny.

Both men advised TMLP customers to monitor local effects of the storm by visiting the company’s Web site, which now has a feature called Severe Weather Alert.

Taunton police were also on full alert, with two officers assigned to each of eight patrol cars and two commanding officers on duty throughout Monday.

During a normal weekday shift police sometimes assign only five or six cars with a single patrolman per vehicle.

Horrigan said a full contingent of 10 line crews and a single tree-removal crew — all told consisting of about 40 workers — had been assembled and deployed Monday morning.

TMLP was assisted by a compliment of two tree crews from Rochester-based Barnes Tree Service Inc.

David Fleurent, manager for Barnes Tree Service, said each of his crews consists of two men. He noted that workers in a severe storm scenario such as Sandy can expect to work 16 straight hours with six hours off.

Food and beverage breaks, when possible, are usually provided at TMLP’s Weir Street building, said Fleurent — who added that TMLP and Barnes have a working relationship dating back at least 20 years.

TFD Deputy Chief Michael Sylvia said 911 calls about downed power lines initially come to the attention of the fire dispatcher, who in turn dispatches the closet engine company.

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“We stay there until TMLP takes control,” Sylvia said.

He said if it turns out that cable TV wires have been dislodged then firefighters often will pull them out of the road before TMLP crews arrive on scene.

But oftentimes, Sylvia added, Verizon or Comcast gets those calls.

“The homeowners are going to be the first one to call to say ‘Hey, my cable’s out,’” he said.

TMLP, which is owned by the city of Taunton, provides electricity to customers in Taunton, North Dighton, Raynham, Bridgewater, Lakeville and Berkley.